Never Settle for the Status Quo with Hettas Founder Lindsay Housman
Nov 21, 2024
auto_awesome
Lindsay Housman, the Founder of Hettas, leads the charge in revolutionizing women's athletic footwear. She unveils the startling fact that most shoes are designed for men, leaving women's unique anatomical needs in the dust. Lindsay discusses the impact this oversight has on women's health and their participation in sports. Hear about her journey in starting Hettas, the challenges of self-funding, and her vision for empowering women through innovative shoe design tailored just for them.
Lindsay Housman's journey in founding Hettas highlights the urgent need for athletic footwear specifically designed for women's unique anatomical requirements.
The podcast emphasizes the broader implications of women's exclusion in research and product design, revealing how this neglect impacts health and participation in sports.
Deep dives
Recharging Creativity Through Rest
Taking a short trip to Las Vegas sparked a renewed sense of creativity and inspiration. The speaker reflects on feeling unusually tired for several weeks, a state described as needing rest rather than just physical sleep. This experience led to realizations about the importance of allowing oneself moments of pause to regain energy and clarity. By attending live events and appreciating others’ creativity, the speaker acknowledges how external experiences can ignite personal motivation and creative ideas.
Facing Disappointment with Perspective
Experiencing the disappointment of a canceled celebrity interview led to reflections on personal worth and rejection. Initially feeling frustrated about the perceived waste of time and resources, the speaker recalled a lesson from 'The Four Agreements': to never take things personally. This shift in perspective allowed for an understanding that disappointment often stems from complex external factors. The discussion also raised questions about balancing personal boundaries with kindness towards others facing their struggles.
The Gender Bias in Athletic Shoe Design
The podcast discusses the prevalent issue of athletic shoes being designed predominantly for men, with women often receiving mere scaled-down versions. This tendency to 'shrink it and pink it' neglects the unique anatomical needs of women, particularly in athletic footwear. It is noted that women's participation in sports has risen significantly over the years, yet most shoe designs do not reflect this change. The conversation emphasizes that many consumer products, including outdoor gear and safety equipment, fail to adequately cater to women's physical needs.
Innovation in Women's Footwear with Hedda's
Lindsay Hausman shared her journey of founding Hedda's, a brand designed specifically for women's running shoes, addressing the gap created by traditional shoe manufacturers. After suffering from foot issues due to ill-fitting shoes, she recognized the need for footwear that considered female anatomy. The brand aims not only to improve performance and comfort for women athletes but also to create a community where women can connect and share experiences. Through dedicated research and transparency, Hedda's seeks to revolutionize the footwear industry and challenge established brands to meet the needs of women athletes.
Did you know that almost all athletic shoes on the market have been designed, researched and tested on men? When Lindsay Housman discovered this, she and her husband, founded Hettas, a company creating running shoes optimized for women. Today, Lindsay joins the podcast to share why becoming a disruptor in this space is so important to her. We discuss:
Why women are left out of research for shoes (and so many other things)
Why women’s feet are fundamentally different than men
How wearing shoes designed for men impacts women's health.
How Hettas came to be and why she started this company much earlier than she thought.
Why it’s important to her to never settle for the status quo
Founding, self-funding and running this company while currently working another full time job
What she hopes to accomplish with Hettas and exactly how their shoes are different
Why she believes women would be in sports longer if they had proper athletic shoes.
How women are treated so differently when it comes to raising venture capital.